Skip to content

USAR Rulebook Online#

Two side by side photos of doubles racquetball team where a teammate is diving for the ball.

USAR Official Rules & Regulations of Racquetball - Table of Contents#

It is the first revision since 2013 and includes the five rule changes passed by the USAR’s Board of Directors in May 2020. The most significant changes were those that now allow the server and the non-serving partner in doubles to step outside of the Service zone as soon as the ball contacts the server’s racquet and that allows the referee to use discretion whether to a technical warning for several types of very short, non-repetitive delay of game situations. It also has a major change to the USAR’s eye protection policy and a totally updated “Competition Policy and Procedures” section at the end. You may also note several other wording changes made only to clarify previously existing rules.

The procedures for proposing future changes to the USAR rules are described near the end of the Rulebook. See Policy and Procedure “E”. Please continue enjoying this fun, fast, and furious sport, but always “Play by the Rules”. Download a PDF copy here: USAR Rulebook (Adobe PDF)

Please note that the online version has not been updated to the current 2020 Rules book, which can be downloaded above in PDF form. The online version is currently under construction.

USAR Official Rules & Regulations of Racquetball - Table of Contents #

1 - The Game #
  • 1.1 Types of Games
  • 1.2 Description
  • 1.3 Objective
  • 1.4 Points and Outs
  • 1.5 Match, Game, Tiebreaker
2 – Courts and Equipment #
  • 2.1 Court Specifications
  • 2.2 Ball Specifications
  • 2.3 Ball Selection
  • 2.4 Racquet Specifications
  • 2.5 Apparel
3 – Play Regulations #
  • 3.1 Serve
  • 3.2 Start
  • 3.3 Manner
  • 3.4 Readiness
  • 3.5 Delays
  • 3.6 Drive Service Zones
  • 3.7 Defective Serves
  • 3.8 Dead-Ball Serves
  • 3.9 Fault Serves
  • 3.10 Out Serves
  • 3.11 Return of Serve
  • 3.12 Changes of Serve
  • 3.13 Rallies
  • 3.14 Replay Hinders
  • 3.15 Penalty Hinders
  • 3.16 Timeouts
  • 3.17 Technical Fouls and Warnings
Various Rule Modifications #
4 - Doubles #
  • 4.1 Doubles Team
  • 4.2 Serve in Doubles
  • 4.3 Fault Serve in Doubles
  • 4.4 Out Serve in Doubles
  • 4.5 Return in Doubles
5 - One Serve (U.S. Team Divisions at National Singles and Doubles Only) #

6 - Multi-Bounce #
  • 6.1 Basic Return Rule
  • 6.2 Blast Rule
  • 6.3 Front Wall Lines
  • 6.4 Games and Matches
7 - Outdoor Racquetball, World Outdoor Racquetball (WOR) #
  • 7.1 Court Specifications
  • 7.2 Court Markings
  • 7.3 Apparel
  • 7.4 Play Regulations
8 - Wheelchair Racquetball #
  • 8.1 Changes to Standard Rules
  • 8.2 Divisions
  • 8.3 Rules
  • 8.4 Multi-Bounce Rules
9 - Visually Impaired Racquetball #
  • 9.1 Eligibility
  • 9.2 Return of Serve and Rallies
  • 9.3 Blast Rule
  • 9.4 Hinders
10 - Deaf Racquetball #
  • 10.1 Eligibility

NOTE: Changes to rules and regulations in Sections 1 through 10 must adhere to published rule change procedures. Remaining policy sections may be altered by vote of the USAR Board of Directors.

11 - Men’s Professional, International Racquetball Tour (IRT) #
  • 11.1 Game, Match
  • 11.2 Appeals
  • 11.3 Line Judges
  • 11.4 Serves
  • 11.5 Resuming Play
  • 11.6 Readiness Rule
  • 11.7 Court Hinders
  • 11.8 Out-of-Court Ball
  • 11.9 Carrying the Ball
  • 11.10 Ball
  • 11.11 After the Rally
  • 11.12 Timeouts
  • 11.13 Forfeit Time
  • 11.14 Apparel
12 - Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) #
  • 12.1 Game, Match
  • 12.2 New Ball
  • 12.3 Line Judges, Appeals
  • 12.4 Serve
  • 12.5 Timeouts
  • 12.6 Hinders
  • 13 - Classic Professional Racquetball Tour (CPRT)
  • 13.1 Eligibility
  • 13.2 Game, Match
  • 13.3 Bonus Serve
  • 13.4 Time
  • 13.5 Appeals
  • 13.6 Court Hinders
14 - National Masters Racquetball Association (NMRA) #
  • 14.1 Eligibility
  • 14.2 Draws
  • 14.3 Game, Match
  • 14.4 Match Score
  • 14.5 Order of Finish
  • 14.6 Forfeits
Competition Policies & Procedures #
A - Tournaments #
  • A.1 Draws
  • A.2 Consolation Matches
  • A.3 Scheduling
  • A.4 Notice of Matches
  • A.5 Finishes
  • A.6 Round Robin Scoring
  • A.7 Court Assignments
  • A.8 Warm-up Times
  • A.9 Tournament Conduct
  • A.10 Spectator Conduct
B - Officiating #
  • B.1 Tournament Management
  • B.2 Tournament Rules Committee
  • B.3 Referee Appointment and Removal
  • B.4 Rules Briefing
  • B.5 Referees
  • B.6 Line Judges
  • B.7 Appeals
  • B.8 Outcome of Appeals
  • B.9 Rule Interpretations
C - Eligibility & National Events #
  • C.1 Eligibility
  • C.2 Waiver & Release
  • C.3 Recognized Divisions
  • C.4 Division Competition by Gender
D - Self-Officiating -– “How to Ref ‘Without’ a Ref”! #
  • D.1 Score
  • D.2 During Rallies
  • D.3 Serve
  • D.4 Replay Hinders
  • D.5 Penalty Hinders
  • D.6 Disputes
E - Procedures #
  • E.1 Rule Change Procedures
  • E.2 USAR National Rules Commissioner
Rulebook Index #

Copyright Notice

The 2020 USAR Official Rules of Racquetball are copyrighted. All rights reserved. These rules may be downloaded and printed for reference. Copyright © 2020 USAR. For information about reprint please contact USA Racquetball.

USA Racquetball

1661 Mesa Ave

Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Tel: 719/635-5396

Fax: 719/635-0685

E-mail: rulescommissioner@usaracquetball.com

www.usaracquetball.com